| Girlfight | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Karyn Kusama |
| Written by | Karyn Kusama |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Patrick Cady |
| Edited by | Plummy Tucker |
| Music by | |
Production companies | Independent Film Channel Productions Green/Renzi Productions |
| Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
|
| Budget | $1 million |
| Box office | $1.7 million |
Girlfight is a 2000 American sports drama film written and directed by Karyn Kusama in her feature directorial debut, and stars Michelle Rodriguez in her first film role. The film follows Diana Guzman, a troubled Brooklyn high school student who decides to channel her aggression by training to become a boxer, despite the disapproval of both her father and her prospective trainers, as well as the competitors in the male-dominated sport.
Kusama wrote the screenplay for Girlfight after learning to box, wanting to make a film about the sport with a female protagonist. Although she struggled to find financiers for the film's $1 million budget, the production was eventually funded by John Sayles, Maggie Renzi and the Independent Film Channel. Rodriguez was cast in the lead role despite having never acted before, and trained in boxing for four months before filming commenced in New York and New Jersey.
Girlfight premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2000, where it tied with You Can Count on Me for the Grand Jury Prize, and Kusama won the Best Director Award. It was theatrically released on September 29, 2000, to critical acclaim, with particular praise for Rodriguez's performance and Kusama's direction. The film earned several accolades, including a nomination for the Bronze Horse at the 2000 Stockholm International Film Festival. At the 16th Independent Spirit Awards, Kusama was nominated for Best First Feature and Rodriguez won for Best Debut Performance.